So we need to talk…
It’s time we see discomfort as a favorable thing. Discomfort is a substantial aspect of human feeling. In your life, it can be due to feelings of awkwardness in social situations, fear of embarrassment, or a struggle to persevere. When feeling uncomfortable about others, we often are judging people based on what we find to be normal. Too often we worry about making others uncomfortable, or agonize over pushing ourselves to feel uncomfortable. These initial negative feelings cloud a realization that discomfort is actually very beneficial to progress.
When was the last time you felt uncomfortable? Was it in fear of being different, or discomfort from another’s differences? Often people feel uncomfortable when faced with challenges or dissimilarities from the status quo. We all encounter these feelings, when observing things we don’t normally see or while being confronted with topics that wouldn’t normally be discussed. We feel it when we struggle with things we are not used to, and it is a large part of day to day life.
When we shelter ourselves from these feelings of discomfort, or are afraid to make others uncomfortable, we too often miss our chances to learn from new experiences and perspectives. In the case of our own discomfort, we are not allowing ourselves to seek beyond the walls we build around ourselves. We don’t push ourselves to learn more. The same goes for making others uncomfortable. If you are trying something new and different, but are too worried to show it to the world, because of how others perceive it, then no one else will get to experience it and learn from it.
In both cases we are letting our fears win. An inability to seek discomfort and push the uncomfortable can promote shallow perspectives, and a dreaded adherence to traditionally outdated social conventions. Discomfort is advantageous in our own personal growth.
So, stop worrying about providing others with a sense of solace on socially detrimental topics. Don’t stop yourself from walking, talking or doing what makes you fulfilled. Start speaking about things that you’re passionate about, and doing what makes you happy. Push yourself to do more, say more, act more. Remember that being uncomfortable is the start to learning, and progression.
Speak your truth.
